[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Les six voyages de Jean-Baptiste Tavernier](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier) › [Travels in India (Ball)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball) › 121.4 # Travels in India (Tavernier) 121.4 Travels in India (Ball) 121.4 - **Language:** English ### [121.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.121.4) 1. Is the place where the Brahmins dress up a representation of some one of their idols, as Mamaniva, SITA, Madedina, and other similar ones which are very numerous. 2. Is the figure of Mamaniva which is in the pagoda. 3. Is another pagoda close to the preceding. It has a cow at the door, and inside a representation of the god Rama. 4. Is another pagoda, where Fakirs betake themselves for penance. 5. Is a fourth pagoda dedicated to Rama. 6. Is the form of a grave, where several times during the year a Fakir withdraws, where he gets no light except through a very small hole. He sometimes remains there nine or ten days without drinking or eating, according to his devotion — a thing which I could not easily have believed if I had not seen it. Curiosity led me to go to see this penitent in company with the Dutch Commander of Surat, who ordered a watch to be set in order to see whether he did not receive anything to eat by day or night. The watch were unable to discover that he received any nourishment, and he remained seated like our tailors without changing his position either by day or night. He whom I saw was not able to remain more than seven days out of the ten which he had vowed to spend, because the heat stifled him on account of the lamp in the grave. The other kinds of penance, of which I am about to speak, would still further exceed human belief if thousands of men were not witnesses of them. - [Previous: 121.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.121.3) - [Next: 121.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.121.5) - [Up: 121](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.121) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.121.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.121.4) · Pramāṇa